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A Journal about Real and Imagined Spaces and Places of the US South and their Global Connections

Fort Scott newspapers

Fort Scott Daily Monitor. October 7, 1883

"Acquit Him"

"From the statements of those present at the killing of McDaniel on the fair ground yesterday, the negro man, May, did nothing but what he should have done, as he was absolutely justifiable in it. McDaniel ought to have been killed right then and there, as he was. He was a drunken desperado, who was and had been endangering the life of any one he came in contact with. When the testimony is given under oath in the preliminary examination, this state of the case may be changed, we doubt if it is, and it will be shown that May was assaulted and shot, and wrested the pistol from his assailant and killed him while his assailant was pummeling him."

"Let Us Consider"

"Friday will long remain a memorable day in the history of Fort Scott. It was at once the brightest and darkest day which the people of this city ever experienced. During a year of unprecedented plenty the brawn and brain of Southern Kansas has been busy erecting the splendid monument to labor and enterprise which was on that day being presented to the people through the instrumentality of the Bourbon County Fair Association. The products of the field were there arrayed in holiday attire, giving evidence of the virgin excellence of our soil. The industry and intelligence of a people who have combined to a greater degree than any other people on earth the true dignity of manhood with the necessity that all men earn their bread by the sweat of the brow. To the products of the field we may add the contribution of the barn and stable which was calculated to thrill even a connosieur [sic] in those branches of labor with pride, while in mechanics and arts the intelligence and genius of the ages were represented. This splendid display had its origin in honest labor, prudence and self-denial. It was the fruition of education and the outgrowth of the purest and best qualities of human nature. This collection might well be compared to the Garden of Eden in its combination of excellences and like the Garden of Eden, it had just one serpent to mar its harmony and beauty. Vice, that monster. . . was there to cast the gloom of its spell where but for its presence there would have been nothing to mar. This evil genius came in the shape of a brutal, depraved and drunken man, who in a moment brought self destruction upon himself. . . Back of the man was a vile fluid and a depraved appetite, all culminating in a disregard of law. That he is personally responsible for his crime no one will controvert, but how far whisky, evil associates and even the man who sold him the whisky which enraged him and fired a naturally depraved nature are open questions."

Fort Scott Herald. "The Right of Self Protection." April 5, 1879.

"Fort Scott has no apology to make for the dreadful deed which was forced on the people. Neither do we pretend to get out of it by claiming that a large proportion of the men engaged in it were from Missouri or the coal banks."